In 2018, Preston Love Jr. began taking a busload of Omaha students to civil rights historic locations in the South. Now in its fifth year, the Face-to-Face with Black History Tour has provided this opportunity— free of charge— to over 300 students. NOISE maker Elle Love spoke with Preston Love (no relation) about this year’s tour which he says was “The best one yet.”
Read MoreAre you a potential employer? Stop by the meet-and-greet tonight between 6-8 p.m. at the Omaha Journalism Lab at 1911 Harney Street. Email Matt Wynn at mwynn@flatwaterfreepress.org to learn more.
Read MoreOPPD was supposed to shut down coal burning at North Omaha Station by 2023. Now, it proposes to burn coal until 2026. On Sunday, July 24, 2022 from 1 - 4 p.m., Eric Williams, OPPD director representing North Omaha and Subdivision 6 will be at Miller Park Pavilion from 1 - 4 p.m. to explain why this is happening and, more importantly, to hear what the public thinks about it.
Read MoreTaking the right steps to ensure that all future generations of young Nebraskans will have access to quality education systems, robust transportation, affordable housing, healthcare and professional opportunities was at the forefront of the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency’s Heartland 2050 Summit: “Baby Steps, Giant Leaps.” NOISE interviewed the keynote speaker, Omaha native, lawyer and urban planner, Tamika Butler.
Read MoreFrom Nebraska Medicine/UNMC: The dominant coronavirus variant nationwide is BA.5. "The original omicron variant is gone now," says infectious diseases expert Dr. Mark Rupp. "Currently subvariants of omicron are circulating, including BA.4, BA.5 and BA.2.12.1.” The best way to prevent new variants is to slow the spread of the virus through proven public health strategies. Click on the link for more information from our local health experts.
Read MoreFrom The Reader: In Nebraska, being denied Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) is the norm for families that apply to the program. In 2020, around 90% of families that applied for ADC were denied, according to federal data — Nebraska’s denial rate for applications to get direct cash assistance surpasses that of all but three states in the nation. This story closes out a series published in The Reader and on omahajobs.com from September 2021 — June 2022 that spotlights the experiences of low-income, working families in Omaha, part of a larger series about inequity in Omaha, titled “(Dis)Invested.”
Read MoreRoe v. Wade may be overturned but abortion is still legal and accessible in Nebraska. NOISEmaker Elle Love spoke to Dr. Carolee Jones of Methodist Physicians Women’s Clinic and Ashlei Spivey, founder of the reproductive justice organization I Be Black Girl, about how a post-Roe world may be more dangerous for Black women. But, according to Sen. Megan Hunt, senators are ready to fight any proposed bans of abortion in Nebraska.
Read MoreFrom Flatwater Free Press: Private equity-backed companies are gobbling up vast swaths of residential property across the country, including in Omaha. According to a recent investigation by Flatwater Free Press and KETV Channel 7, Vinebrook Homes has been the largest buyer of single-family homes in Douglas County in the past two years. Vinebrook now appears to be the third-largest landlord in the city, with most properties concentrated in North Omaha. Across the nation and the Omaha metro, community groups and local leaders are searching for answers to the following question: Should they combat companies like Vinebrook? If so, how?
Read MoreFrom Nebraska Medicine/UNMC: COVID-19 vaccines are now available for children ages six months to five years. More than two million cases of COVID-19 have been reported among children ages six months through four years with 400 deaths in that age group. Call the experts at Nebraska Med to schedule an appointment for your child's vaccine.
Read MoreNOISE continues its coverage of the Omaha City Charter review convention. For a fifth time the convention met on June 23, missing five of its fifteen members. In an hour-and-a-half, they discussed and passed a series of proposed amendments to the city’s charter, mainly focusing on policies concerning the city council and mayor’s office. The amendments will be sent to the city council, which will vote on whether they should go on the November 2022 ballot for voter approval. The next meeting is tonight, June 30.
Read MorePresident and CEO of the Omaha Chamber, Veta Jeffery was the keynote speaker at last week’s Minority Small Business Summit at the Highlander on N. 30th Street. Entrepreneurs and small business owners from Omaha gathered to network, participate in educational sessions, connect with community resources, and engage in a pitch competition for a $10,000 grand prize.
Read MoreOn June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, ending the nearly 50-year constitutional right to abortion. Andi Curry Grubb, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska, stressed that abortion is still legal in Nebraska. Anti-abortion politicians intend to call a special session this summer to attempt to pass a total abortion ban in the state. Advocates in the legislature helped defeat a total ban earlier this year.
Read MoreWhat has been going on at the Omaha City Charter Convention? Three more meetings are likely to take place on June 23, 30 and July 11 before the convention submits a report to the city council, who will then decide whether any of the convention’s recommended amendments to the city charter should be placed on the November 2022 general election ballot for voter approval. Pete Fey gives NOISE readers an update on proposals submitted by city departments, the mayor’s office and the public, including some charter convention members and elected officials.
Read MoreA statewide partnership of public and private organizations has launched “We Care for Kids,” a public outreach campaign to build support for quality early childhood education for all Nebraska families. The campaign aims to support families with resources and tools to help them recognize and seek out quality early care and learning for their children, especially in under-resourced communities.
Read MoreAs part of The Missouri Independent and NPR Midwest Newsroom’s collaborative investigation of high levels of lead in children in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, reporter Niara Savage interviewed Gerald Markowitz, author of the 2002 book “Deceit and Denial: The Deadly Politics of Industrial Pollution.” They discuss the lead industry’s history of misleading the public and the lasting implications for public perception and policy.
Read MoreA vibrant, diverse mix of reporters is vital for any healthy news ecosystem. For decades, Nebraska has lacked that key aspect. NOISE and our partners at the AIM Institute and the Nebraska Journalism Trust, which publishes the Flatwater Free Press, are stepping up to the plate to change the media landscape in Nebraska. Apply now for six free journalism classes to be held in July at 1911 Harney St.
Read MoreFrom KETV and Flatwater Free Press: Over the past 30 months, the number one buyer of single-family homes in Douglas County has been Ohio-based Vinebrook Homes. The majority of the company’s purchases are in North Omaha. It is now one of the largest landlords in the city, according to Omaha’s rental registration. Join Flatwater Free Press and elected officials on May 26 at the Fabric Lab, 2514 N. 24th St. from 6 - 8 p.m. for a town hall discussion: North Omaha’s residential reckoning— gentrification, displacement and affordable housing.
Read MoreFrom Flatwater Free Press: There are only three abortion clinics in Nebraska, all in Omaha and Lincoln. If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade and abortion is banned in Nebraska, the future of abortion in Iowa and Kansas will determine how far Nebraskans must travel for healthcare. Other neighbors – South Dakota, Wyoming and Missouri – have so-called “trigger bans” that go into effect if Roe is overturned. A look at the potential future for Nebraskans needing abortion services.
Read MoreThere are many famous Nebraskans, but the Malcolm X Foundation considers its namesake to be the state’s most famous son, which is why they always celebrate his birthday on May 19 with a series of free public events. This year, the celebration will continue from Thursday through Sunday.
Events at the foundation include a birthday luncheon, daily guided tours, a photo exhibition, a Friday night youth poetry performance, a Saturday morning youth reading circle in collaboration with the Omaha Public Library, a Saturday afternoon dance performance and drill teams and a silent auction.
Read MoreFrom Nebraska Examiner: Habitat for Humanity of Omaha @habitatomaha and its partners held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday for an affordable housing development near 52nd and Sorensen Parkway.
“This is an important first-of-its-kind project in building communities for Habitat Omaha,” said CEO Amanda Brewer. “There is a serious affordable housing crisis for families in Omaha, with a shortage of 80,000 units. We are pleased and honored to redevelop this site to create homes for people and to build community.”
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